R A S R E S. 



259 



Back, rump, wings, and tail above, dark blue, with metallic green 

 reflections, in a strong light appearing to be entirely of the latter color. 

 Under coverts of the wings brownish-black, many of the feathers glossed 

 with metallic green ; under tail-coverts dark fuliginous, and with the 

 plumage of the ventral region glossed with metallic green. Bill black ; 

 " feet orange-brown ; irides lake-red ; nails sepia brown" (Peale). 



Hab. — Tahiti, Society Islands. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washing- 

 ton. 



The specimen above described, of this fine Pigeon, in size and gene- 

 ral form much resembles Qtrpophaga mirorce, Peale, but can be imme- 

 diately distinguished by the dark colors of the head, neck, and inferior 

 surface of the body. The two specimens in the collection of the Ex- 

 pedition have, moreover, but twelve feathers in their tails. The plu- 

 mage is without any vinous tinge whatever, though this species evi- 

 dently belongs to the group of species mentioned in our article on the 

 bird immediately preceding. 



We regard it as scarcely possible, that the present bird can be the 

 species described under the name of Columha Forsteri, by Wagler, in 

 the Isis, 1829, p. 739, and wdiich is Columha glohlcem, Variety 1, of 

 Forster, Descriptiones Animalium, p. 166 (1844).'^' The descriptions 

 of both of these naturalists are not sufficiently applicable to this species 

 to warrant such conclusion. Wagler states expressly, that the under 

 tail-coverts are ferruginous, and the same is given by Forster.f What- 

 ever may be the color of the plumage of this part or of other parts 

 of this bird at any age less mature than that of the specimens now 

 before us, and we have found exceeding caution necessary in investi- 

 gating the nearly allied species of the beautiful birds of this family, 

 we must at present regard the entirely different color of the inferior 

 coverts of the tail in the present specimens as sufficient, even if no 

 others existed. No dimensions are given by Wagler, nor by Forster, 

 of the bird that he regarded as a variety, and neither of those authors 

 give satisfactory descriptions of their proposed species. 



* Cited by Wagler as " Forster in Manuscr." The manuscript alluded to was after- 

 wards (in 1844), published by Professor H. Lichtenstein, under the title of "J. R. 

 Forsteri Descriptiones Animalium in Itinere ad Maris Australia Terras per annos 1772, 

 74, suscepto observatorum, editit H. Lichtenstein." One volume, octavo, Berlin, 1844. 



f " Crisso ferrugineo," Wagler. " Crissum ferrugineum," Forster. 



